Pi Network (PI) is requiring all mainnet node operators to complete the first phase of a series of blockchain protocol upgrades by February 15, as the project claims that 16 million users have migrated to the mainnet.
What happened: Node upgrade deadline
The Pi Core Team announced in a post on X on February 11 that the Pi mainnet blockchain protocol is undergoing a series of upgrades, with the deadline for the first phase set for February 15. All mainnet nodes must complete this phase to remain connected to the network.
This announcement came alongside a broader update on the project's node infrastructure. Pi nodes, operating on laptops and desktop computers, run in environments that are not mobile devices and represent what the team calls the 'fourth role' of the Pi Network community.
The network uses a consensus model based on the Stellar Consensus Protocol instead of proof-of-work mining, relying on a trust group known as quorum slices and a global trust graph built from the security circles of mobile users.
This system operates on three layers of participation: a computer app for balance checking and access to internal tools, standard node participation for blockchain validation and transaction submission, and a supernode layer responsible for 24/7 consensus and ledger synchronization.
Supernode operators must maintain a stable 24/7 connectivity and are selected by the core team after passing KYC approval.
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Why It Matters: Community Discontent Rises
The announcement of this upgrade hardly helped quell the ongoing complaints within the Pi community. Instead of discussing the technical changes, many users criticized the lack of transparency regarding the project's second migration phase, questioning when their Pi tokens would finally be transitioned to the mainnet.
Others demanded more details about what the upgrade actually entails and whether it would address concerns regarding missing tokens. This pattern of community backlash is not new. Previous core team posts have also faced similar criticism due to unresolved issues.
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